According to http://www.merrium-webster.com/, Quixotic describes a characteristic of being “foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action.” http://www.dictionary.com/ provides synonyms of ”fanciful, fantastic, and imaginary.” This term is derived from the character Don Quixote in the book by Miguel De Cervantes.“Don Quixote is a middle-aged gentleman from the region of La Mancha in central Spain. Obsessed with the chivalrous ideals touted in books he has read, he decides to take up his lance and sword to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked. After a first failed adventure, he sets out on a second one with a somewhat befuddled laborer named Sancho Panza, whom he has persuaded to 
accompany him as his faithful squire. In return for Sancho's services, Don Quixote promises to make Sancho the wealthy governor of an isle. On his horse, Rocinante, a barn nag well past his prime, Don Quixote rides the roads of Spain in search of glory and grand adventure.” (http://www.sparknotes.com/)
accompany him as his faithful squire. In return for Sancho's services, Don Quixote promises to make Sancho the wealthy governor of an isle. On his horse, Rocinante, a barn nag well past his prime, Don Quixote rides the roads of Spain in search of glory and grand adventure.” (http://www.sparknotes.com/)Don Quixote has become an icon of the idealist, the romanticist, and the chivalrous. Along with his trusted side-kick Sancho Panza, he is the subject of many famous paintings and drawings. One of 
my favorites is by Honore Daumier. When I studied drawing in college, I chose his work and replicated his illustration of the Tilter of Windmills (not the title of his work—my slang for the subject). I love the pen and ink washes and the gestural nature of the drawing. (first image in the blog)
my favorites is by Honore Daumier. When I studied drawing in college, I chose his work and replicated his illustration of the Tilter of Windmills (not the title of his work—my slang for the subject). I love the pen and ink washes and the gestural nature of the drawing. (first image in the blog)Famed Spanish artists, Dali (above right) and Picasso (left), took their shot at the subject as well. Of course they are fantastic. While trolling the Google pool, I also came across a version of the subject by German artist Alex Gokel (below). Gokel’s work is often compared to Kandinsky’s work and is “a superstar German artist.” Gokel sold his first work when he was 8, and worked for a time in the coal mines of Germany.
http://www.parkwest-gockel.com/bio.asp has a nice video that shows him painting at the Parkwest gallery.We should all indulge our quixotic tendancies every once in a while. We can get caught up in the rigors and competitions of just surviving. As an artist, feeding our imagination can include chasing a wooden dragon every once in a while.
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